Comparator circuit, semiconductor device, battery monitoring system, charging prohibition method, and computer-readable medium

ABSTRACT

A comparator circuit includes: a switching element that is disposed between a positive electrode of a battery cell and a fixed potential supply source, that has a control terminal connected to a negative electrode of the battery cell, and that operates in response to a voltage applied from the battery cell to the control terminal; a voltage regulating unit that is disposed between the battery cell and the switching element and that regulates the voltage applied from the battery cell to the switching element; and an output signal line that outputs a potential between the switching element and the fixed potential supply source.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No.13/459,452 filed on Apr. 30, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,088,053 issued onJul. 21, 2015, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 from JapanesePatent Application No. 2011-109613 filed on May 16, 2011, the disclosureof which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a comparator circuit, a semiconductordevice, a battery monitoring system, a charging prohibition method, anda computer-readable medium in which is stored a charging prohibitionprogram. The present invention particularly relates to a comparatorcircuit that compares a voltage of a positive electrode and a voltage ofa negative electrode of a battery cell, a semiconductor device, abattery monitoring system, a charging prohibition method, and acomputer-readable medium in which is stored a charging prohibitionprogram.

Description of the Related Art

Generally, batteries (specific examples include lithium ion batteries)that are assembled batteries in which plural batteries (battery cells)that are rechargeable are connected in series are used aslarge-capacity, high-output batteries used to drive motors in hybridvehicles and electric vehicles. Battery monitoring systems provided witha protection circuit for protecting the battery are known.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No.11-155241, there is described a charging current control circuit and anassembled battery charging method that can, when charging an assembledbattery in which plural battery cells that are rechargeable areconnected in series, fully charge all battery cells even when usingbattery cells with different characteristics.

In a battery monitoring system like this, in a case where the voltage ofa battery cell is extremely small, there are cases where irreversibledeterioration of the battery cell occurs. For example, in a lithium ionbattery cell, when the battery voltage becomes equal to or less than 0.6V, the copper of the copper foil that is the coated base material of thenegative electrode ionizes, dissolves into the electrolyte, andprecipitates everywhere inside the battery cell. Because of this, thefunction of the positive electrode deteriorates, the container (iron)dissolves, holes form, and the electrolyte leaks. Moreover, in a casewhere the electrolyte has leaked, charging current flows through theelectrolyte, so sometimes the printed board to which the electrolyte hasadhered gives off heat, gives off smoke, and moreover ignites.

In order to respond to the above situation, a charging prohibitionvoltage is determined, and generally in a case where, even in one of thebattery cells included in the assembled battery, the battery voltagethereof has become equal to or less than the charging prohibitionvoltage, a predetermined processing such as prohibiting charging isperformed.

For that reason, the protection circuit of the battery monitoring systemis configured to include a voltage detection circuit for detectingwhether or not the battery voltage of a battery cell has become equal toor less than the charging prohibition voltage. FIG. 13 shows a specificexample of a conventional voltage detection circuit 2000. The voltagedetection circuit 2000 is disposed for each battery cell in a pluralityof battery cells connected in series (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 13,the conventional voltage detection circuit 2000 is configured by acomparator circuit that compares a voltage obtained by dividing thebattery voltage of each battery cell (the difference between the voltageof the high potential side and the voltage of the low potential side) bythe resistance with a reference voltage generated by a reference voltagegenerating circuit and outputs the comparison result.

However, the above technology cannot detect the battery voltage in acase where the battery voltage of the battery cell is low.

The reference voltage generating circuit and the comparator circuitconfiguring the voltage detection circuit 2000 shown in FIG. 13 aregenerally configured by CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor)integrated circuits, so the lowest operational power supply voltage isconstrained by the threshold value Vt of the MOS transistors. The powerfor the reference voltage generating circuit and the comparator circuitis supplied from each battery cell, so when the battery voltage of thebattery cell becomes an extremely low voltage, such as equal to or lessthan 1 V, for example, the power supply voltage of the reference voltagegenerating circuit and the comparator circuit ends up becoming equal toor less than 1 V.

The aforementioned charging prohibition voltage differs depending on thebattery cell, but generally a voltage of about 0.7 V is used. Further,in recent battery cells, there is a desire to make the chargingprohibition voltage about 0.1 V to about 0.2 V.

However, in the voltage detection circuit 2000, if the battery voltageof the battery cell is lower than the lowest operational power supplyvoltage, there are cases where the reference voltage generating circuitand the comparator circuit do not operate. Consequently, the voltagedetection circuit 2000 can only, being subject to the constraint of thelowest operational power supply voltage, detect a battery voltage thatexceeds the lowest operating power supply voltage. In a case where thebattery voltage of the battery cell is an extremely low voltage, such asequal to or less than 1 V, the voltage detection circuit 2000 cannotdetect the charging prohibition voltage because it cannot detect thebattery voltage.

Particularly in a case where the battery voltage of the battery cell hasdecreased abruptly, the battery voltage that has become low cannot bedetected, so a situation such as described above ends up occurringbecause charging cannot be prohibited and the battery cell whose batteryvoltage is equal to or less than the charging prohibition voltage endsup being charged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstancesand provides a comparator circuit, a semiconductor device, a batterymonitoring system, a charging prohibition method, and acomputer-readable storage medium in which is stored a chargingprohibition program.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided acomparator circuit including: a switching element that is disposedbetween a positive electrode of a battery cell and a fixed potentialsupply source, that has a control terminal connected to a negativeelectrode of the battery cell, and that operates in response to avoltage applied from the battery cell to the control terminal; a voltageregulating unit that is disposed between the battery cell and theswitching element and that regulates the voltage applied from thebattery cell to the switching element; and an output signal line thatoutputs a potential between the switching element and the fixedpotential supply source.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided asemiconductor device including: the comparator circuit according to thefirst aspect of the invention; and a processing circuit that performsprocessing that prohibits charging of the battery cell in a case inwhich the potential outputted from the output signal line of thecomparator circuit is the potential of the fixed potential supplysource.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided abattery monitoring system including: a plurality of battery cellsconnected in series; a semiconductor device including the comparatorcircuit according to the first aspect of the invention, the comparatorcircuit comparing a voltage of a high potential side and a voltage of alow potential side of the battery cells; and a charging circuit thatcharges the plurality of battery cells.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided acharging prohibition method including: acquiring a potential that isoutputted from an output signal line of a comparator circuit, thecomparator circuit including: a switching element that is disposedbetween a positive electrode of a battery cell and a fixed potentialsupply source, that has a control terminal connected to a negativeelectrode of the battery cell, and that operates in response to avoltage applied from the battery cell to the control terminal; a voltageregulating unit that is disposed between the battery cell and theswitching element and that regulates the voltage applied from thebattery cell to the switching element; and the output signal line, whichoutputs the potential between the switching element and the fixedpotential supply source; judging whether or not the acquired potentialis the potential of the fixed potential supply source; and determiningthat the voltage of the battery cell is equal to or less than a chargingprohibition voltage in a case in which it is judged that the acquiredpotential is the potential of the fixed potential supply source.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided acharging prohibition method including: performing, with respect to eachbattery cell in a plurality of battery cells, processing that acquires apotential that is outputted from an output signal line of a comparatorcircuit, the comparator circuit including: a switching element that isdisposed between a positive electrode of a battery cell and a fixedpotential supply source, that has a control terminal connected to anegative electrode of the battery cell, and that operates in response toa voltage applied from the battery cell to the control terminal; avoltage regulating unit that is disposed between the battery cell andthe switching element and that regulates the voltage applied from thebattery cell to the switching element; and the output signal line, whichoutputs the potential between the switching element and the fixedpotential supply source; and acquiring a number of outputs in which theacquired potential is the potential of the fixed potential supplysource; and determining, in accordance with a set value predetermined inaccordance with a charging prohibition voltage and the acquired numberof outputs in which the acquired potential is the potential of the fixedpotential supply source, that the voltage of the battery cell is equalto or less than the charging prohibition voltage.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided acomputer-readable medium in which is stored a program for causing acomputer to execute charging prohibition processing, the chargingprohibition processing including: acquiring a potential that isoutputted from an output signal line of a comparator circuit, thecomparator circuit including: a switching element that is disposedbetween a positive electrode of a battery cell and a fixed potentialsupply source, that has a control terminal connected to a negativeelectrode of the battery cell, and that operates in response to avoltage applied from the battery cell to the control terminal; a voltageregulating unit that is disposed between the battery cell and theswitching element and that regulates the voltage applied from thebattery cell to the switching element; and the output signal line, whichoutputs the potential between the switching element and the fixedpotential supply source; judging whether or not the acquired potentialis the potential of the fixed potential supply source; and determiningthat the voltage of the battery cell is equal to or less than a chargingprohibition voltage in a case in which it is judged that the acquiredpotential is the potential of the fixed potential supply source.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided acomputer-readable medium in which is stored a program for causing acomputer to execute charging prohibition processing, the chargingprohibition processing including: performing, with respect to eachbattery cell in a plurality of battery cells, processing that acquires apotential outputted from an output signal line of a comparator circuit,the comparator circuit including: a switching element that is disposedbetween a positive electrode of a battery cell and a fixed potentialsupply source, that has a control terminal connected to a negativeelectrode of the battery cell, and that operates in response to avoltage applied from the battery cell to the control terminal; a voltageregulating unit that is disposed between the battery cell and theswitching element and that regulates the voltage applied from thebattery cell to the switching element; and the output signal line, whichoutputs the potential between the switching element and the fixedpotential supply source; acquiring a number of outputs in which theacquired potential is the potential of the fixed potential supplysource; and determining, in accordance with a set value predetermined inaccordance with a charging prohibition voltage and the acquired numberof outputs in which the acquired potential is the potential of the fixedpotential supply source, that the voltage of the battery cell is equalto or less than the charging prohibition voltage.

According to the present invention, even in a case where the batteryvoltage of a battery cell is low, the battery voltage of the batterycell may be detected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the schematicconfiguration of a battery monitoring system pertaining to a firstembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of therelationship between voltage detection circuits and a battery cell grouppertaining to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the schematicconfiguration of a voltage detection circuit pertaining to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a chargingprohibition determination operation pertaining to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the schematicconfiguration of a voltage detection circuit pertaining to a secondembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of voltage detection circuits in asemiconductor circuit of a battery monitoring system for describing acharging prohibition determination operation pertaining to a thirdembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for describing a case where, in thevoltage detection circuits shown in FIG. 6, the voltage of each batterycell in the battery cell group is an ideal value (a voltage value whencharging is complete: 3.6 V);

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for describing a case where, in thevoltage detection circuits shown in FIG. 6, the voltage of each batterycell in the battery cell group has dropped significantly (0.6 V);

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for describing a case where, in thevoltage detection circuits shown in FIG. 6, the voltage of each batterycell in the battery cell group has dropped more than in the case shownin FIG. 8 (0.4 V);

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for describing a case where, in thevoltage detection circuits shown in FIG. 6, the voltage of each batterycell in the battery cell group has dropped more than in the case shownin FIG. 9 (0.2 V);

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a chargingprohibition determination operation that prohibits charging of thebattery cell group pertaining to the third embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing another example of the schematicconfiguration of the voltage detection circuit pertaining to the firstembodiment; and

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the schematicconfiguration of a conventional voltage detection circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION First Embodiment

First, a comparator circuit of a first embodiment and a batterymonitoring system including a semiconductor device provided with thecomparator circuit will be described in detail below with reference tothe drawings.

First, the configuration of a battery monitoring system 10 of thepresent embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 shows an example of theschematic configuration of the battery monitoring system 10 of thepresent embodiment. The battery monitoring system 10 of the presentembodiment shown in FIG. 1 is configured to include a battery cell group12 including a plurality of battery cells (FIG. 1 shows a battery cellgroup 12 including three battery cells as a specific example), asemiconductor circuit 14 including voltage detection circuits 20 thatdetect the battery voltage of each battery cell in the battery cellgroup 12, and a charging circuit 16 for charging the battery cell group12.

The charging circuit 16 has the function of charging the battery cellgroup 12. For example, the charging circuit 16 has the function ofperforming charging by applying a predetermined voltage to the positiveelectrode (high potential) side of the battery cell that is uppermost(on the highest voltage side) and the negative electrode (low potential)side of the battery cell that is lowermost (on the lowest potentialside).

The semiconductor circuit 14 is configured to include the voltagedetection circuits 20 and a processing circuit 22. The high voltage sideand the low voltage side of each battery cell in the battery cell group12 are connected via terminals (pads) 23 to the semiconductor circuit 14(see FIG. 2).

In the present embodiment, the voltage detection circuits 20 aredisposed for each battery cell. That is, the voltage detection circuits20 are disposed in a number equal to the number of the battery cells inthe battery cell group 12. FIG. 2 shows the relationship between thevoltage detection circuits 20 and the battery cell group 12 in thepresent embodiment. The voltage detection circuits 20 are comparatorcircuits that compare the voltage of the positive electrode (highpotential) side and the voltage of the negative electrode (lowpotential) side of the battery cells. Specifically, the voltagedetection circuits 20 have the function of outputting a predeterminedpotential (in the present embodiment, a GND level) as an output signalOUT in a case where the difference (the battery voltage of the batterycell) between the voltage of the positive electrode (high potential)side and the voltage of the negative electrode (low potential) side isequal to or less than a predetermined voltage (a charging prohibitionvoltage). In the semiconductor circuit 14 of the present embodiment, allof the voltage detection circuits 20 have the same configuration.

The processing circuit 22 is configured by a CPU and memories 24 such asa ROM and a RAM. The processing circuit 22 has the function ofperforming predetermined processing (e.g., outputting an instruction tothe charging circuit 16 to prohibit charging of the battery cell group12) depending on whether or not the output signals OUT outputted fromthe voltage detection circuits 20 are a predetermined potential (detailsdescribed later).

Next, the voltage detection circuit 20 of the present embodiment will bedescribed in detail. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an example ofthe schematic configuration of the voltage detection circuit 20 of thepresent embodiment.

The voltage detection circuit 20 of the present embodiment is configuredto include a PMOS transistor M1 that functions as a switching element, adiode D1, a constant current source I1, and a constant current sourceI2. Further, the voltage detection circuit 20 is also provided with anoutput signal line 21 for outputting, as the output signal OUT, thepotential between the PMOS transistor M1 and the constant current sourceI2.

The anode terminal of the diode D1 is connected to the negativeelectrode (low potential) side of the battery cell, and the cathodeterminal of the diode D1 is connected to the constant current source I1.The diode D1 of the present embodiment has the function of regulatingthe voltage applied from the negative electrode (low potential) side ofthe battery cell to the gate terminal of the PMOS transistor M1 (detailsdescribed later).

The source terminal of the PMOS transistor M1 is connected via theterminal (pad) 23 to the positive electrode side of the battery cell,and the drain terminal of the PMOS transistor M1 is connected to theconstant current source I2. Further, the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M1 is connected between the diode D1 and the constant currentsource I1.

One end of the constant current source I1 is connected to the diode D1,and the other end of the constant current source I1 is connected to afixed potential supply source (in the present embodiment. Refer to it asthe GND level). Further, one end of the constant current source I2 isconnected to the PMOS transistor M1, and the other end of the constantcurrent source I2 is connected to the fixed potential supply source (inthe present embodiment, equal to or less than the GND level; called “theGND level”).

Further, the output signal line 21 for outputting the output signal OUTis connected between the PMOS transistor M1 and the constant currentsource I2.

Next, the voltage detection operation of the voltage detection circuit20 of the present embodiment will be described.

First, a case where the battery voltage of the battery cell is high willbe described. In a case where the voltage of the battery cell is high,the difference between the voltage of the positive electrode (highpotential) side and the voltage of the negative electrode (lowpotential) side of the battery cell is large, and the gate-sourcevoltage of the PMOS transistor M1 exceeds a threshold voltage Vt of thePMOS transistor M1, the PMOS transistor M1 switches on and current issupplied to the constant current source I2. Because of this, the outputsignal OUT outputted via the output signal line 21 becomes the voltagelevel of the positive electrode (high potential) side of the batterycell.

Next, a case where the battery voltage of the battery cell is low willbe described. In a case where the voltage of the battery cell is low,the difference between the voltage of the positive electrode (highpotential) side and the voltage of the negative electrode (lowpotential) side of the battery cell is small, and the gate-sourcevoltage of the PMOS transistor M1 is equal to or less than the thresholdvoltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1, the PMOS transistor M1 switchesoff and current is no longer supplied to the constant current source I2.Because of this, the output signal OUT outputted via the output signalline 21 becomes the GND level.

Here, in the present embodiment, the threshold value at which the outputsignal OUT changes from the voltage level of the positive electrode(high potential) side of the battery cell to the GND level depending onthe difference between the voltage of the positive electrode (highpotential) side and the voltage of the negative electrode (lowpotential) side of the battery cell can be set to a voltage value thatis smaller than the threshold voltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1 as aresult of the voltage applied from the negative electrode (lowpotential) side of the battery cell to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M1 being regulated by the diode D1.

A voltage equal to the difference between the voltage applied from thenegative electrode (low potential) side of the battery cell and theanode-cathode voltage of the diode D1 is applied to the gate terminal ofthe PMOS transistor M1. For that reason, the gate-source voltage of thePMOS transistor M1 becomes a voltage value equal to the sum of thedifference between the voltage on the positive electrode (highpotential) side and the voltage on the negative electrode (lowpotential) side of the battery cell and the anode-cathode voltage of thediode D1.

That is, in the voltage detection circuit 20 of the present embodiment,the threshold value at which the level of the output signal OUT changesbecomes a voltage equal to the difference between the threshold voltageVt of the PMOS transistor M1 and the anode-cathode voltage of the diodeD1. Generally, the threshold voltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1 isequal to 0.8 V and the forward voltage of the diode D1 is equal to 0.7V, so the threshold voltage at which the level of the output signal OUTchanges becomes equal to the difference between 0.8 V and 0.7 V, whichis 0.1 V (0.8 V−0.7 V=0.1 V), and the threshold voltage can be set to alow voltage.

Consequently, in the voltage detection circuit 20 of the presentembodiment, the voltage of the battery cell can be detected to 0.1 V.

Next, a battery cell charging prohibition determination operation in thesemiconductor circuit 14 of the present embodiment will be described. Inthe semiconductor circuit 14 of the present embodiment, the chargingprohibition determination operation is performed as a result of aprogram stored in the memories 24 being executed by the CPU of theprocessing circuit 22. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of aflow of the charging prohibition determination operation of the presentembodiment.

In step 100, the output signals OUT of the voltage detection circuits 20is detected. Here, the output signal OUT of any one of the voltagedetection circuits 20 is detected. In the next step 102, the detectedoutput signal OUT is stored in a memory or the like.

In the next step 104, it is judged whether or not the output signals OUTof all of the voltage detection circuits 20 has been detected. In a casewhere there is a voltage detection circuit 20 whose output signal OUThas not yet been detected (e.g., in the semiconductor circuit 14 shownin FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a case where the output signals OUT of the threevoltage detection circuits 20 has not been detected), the answer is NOand the processing returns to step S100 and the processing of detectingand storing the output signals OUT is repeated. On the other hand, in acase where it has been detected the output signals OUT of all of thevoltage detection circuits 20, the answer is YES and the processingadvances to step 106.

In step 106, it is determined whether or not there is an output signalOUT indicating the GND level in the stored output signals OUT. In a casewhere there is no output signal OUT indicating the GND level, thevoltages of all of the battery cells are equal to or greater than thecharging prohibition voltage, so the processing ends. On the other hand,in a case where there is even one output signal OUT indicating the GNDlevel, the processing advances to step 108, a predetermined processingis performed, and thereafter the processing ends. The predeterminedprocessing is a processing such as outputting to the charging circuit 16a prohibition signal for prohibiting the charging circuit 16 fromcharging and/or giving notification to the outside of the batterymonitoring system 10 that the voltage of a battery cell has become equalto or less than the charging prohibition voltage. The predeterminedprocessing is a processing for preventing a battery cell whose batteryvoltage has become equal to or less than the charging prohibitionvoltage from ending up being charged, so that a situation such as thecopper ion precipitation or electrolyte leakage described above does notoccur.

As described above, the voltage detection circuit 20 in thesemiconductor circuit 14 of the battery monitoring system 10 of thepresent embodiment is configured to include the PMOS transistor M1 thatfunctions as a switching element, the diode D1, the constant currentsource I1, and the constant current source I2. Further, the voltagedetection circuit 20 is also provided with the output signal line 21 foroutputting, as the output signal OUT, the potential between the PMOStransistor M1 and the constant current source I2. The anode terminal ofthe diode D1 is connected to the negative electrode (low potential) sideof the battery cell, and the cathode terminal of the diode D1 isconnected to the constant current source I1. The source terminal of thePMOS transistor M1 is connected via the terminal (pad) 23 to thepositive electrode side of the battery cell, the drain terminal of thePMOS transistor M1 is connected to the constant current source I2, andthe gate terminal of the PMOS transistor M1 is connected between thediode D1 and the constant current source I1.

In a case where the voltage of the battery cell is high and thegate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M1 exceeds the thresholdvoltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1, the PMOS transistor M1 switches onand the output signal OUT becomes the voltage level of the positiveelectrode (high potential) side of the battery cell. On the other hand,in a case where the battery voltage of the battery cell is low and thegate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M1 is equal to or less thanthe threshold voltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1, the PMOS transistorM1 switches off and the output signal OUT becomes the GND level.

At this time, in the present embodiment, the voltage applied from thenegative electrode (low potential) side of the battery cell to the gateterminal of the PMOS transistor M1 can be lowered by the anode-cathode(forward) voltage of the diode D1, so the threshold value at which thelevel of the output signal OUT changes can be made equal to thedifference between the threshold voltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1and the anode-cathode (forward) voltage of the diode D1.

Consequently, even in a case where the battery voltage of the batterycell is low, the battery voltage of the battery cell can be detected.Particularly in the conventional voltage detection circuit 2000 (seeFIG. 13), as described above, the lowest voltage that can be detected isrestricted dependent on the threshold value Vt of the MOS transistorconfiguring the voltage detection circuit 2000, but in the voltagedetection circuit 20 of the present embodiment, the threshold value atwhich the level of the output signal OUT changes can be set to a valuethat is smaller than the threshold voltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1,so a lower battery voltage of the battery cell can be detected.

Further, in the present embodiment, the processing circuit 22 of thesemiconductor circuit 14 detects the levels of the output signals OUT ofthe voltage detection circuits 20 and determines whether or not there isa GND level output signal OUT. In a case where there is a GND leveloutput signal OUT, the processing circuit 22 determines that the batteryvoltage of the battery cell detected by the voltage detection circuit 20whose GND level output signal OUT the processing circuit 22 has detectedis equal to or less than the charging prohibition voltage and performsthe predetermined processing for prohibiting charging.

Consequently, copper ion precipitation and electrolyte leakage thatoccur as a result of ending up charging a battery cell whose batteryvoltage is equal to or less than the charging prohibition voltage can beprevented.

Regarding the voltage detection circuit 20 on the lowest (low potential)side of the battery cell group 12, there are cases where the effect ofvoltage regulation by the forward voltage of the diode D1 is notobtained and the on/off switching of the PMOS transistor M1 iscontrolled in accordance with the threshold voltage Vt of the PMOStransistor M1, such as, for example, a case where the potential level ofthe negative electrode (low potential) side is 0 V, but a voltage lowerthan in the conventional voltage detection circuit 2000 described abovecan be detected.

Second Embodiment

A voltage detection circuit 30 of a second embodiment of the presentinvention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Thepresent embodiment has substantially the same configurations andoperations as those of the first embodiment except that theconfiguration and operation of the voltage detection circuit 30 differfrom those of the voltage detection circuit 20 of the first embodiment,so portions that are substantially the same will be indicated as suchand detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The battery monitoring system 10 and the semiconductor circuit 14 aresubstantially the same as those of the first embodiment except that thevoltage detection circuit 20 is replaced with the voltage detectioncircuit 30 of the present embodiment, so detailed description will beomitted here.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the schematicconfiguration of the voltage detection circuit 30 of the presentembodiment.

The voltage detection circuit 30 of the present embodiment is configuredto include a PMOS transistor M1 that functions as a switching element, aPMOS transistor M2, a resistive element R1, a constant current sourceI1, and a constant current source I2. Further, the voltage detectioncircuit 30 is also provided with an output signal line 21 foroutputting, as an output signal OUT, the potential between the PMOStransistor M1 and the constant current source I2.

The resistive element R1 is disposed between the positive electrode(high potential) side of the battery cell and the source terminal of thePMOS transistor M1. The resistive element R1 of the present embodimenthas the function of regulating the voltage applied from the positiveelectrode (high potential) side of the battery cell to the sourceterminal of the PMOS transistor M1 (details described later).

The source terminal of the PMOS transistor M1 is connected to thepositive electrode (high potential) side of the battery cell via theresistive element R1, and the drain terminal of the PMOS transistor M1is connected to the constant current source I2. Further, the sourceterminal of the PMOS transistor M2 is connected to the negativeelectrode (low potential) side of the battery cell, and the drainterminal of the PMOS transistor M2 is connected to the constant currentsource I1. Moreover, the gate terminal of the PMOS transistor M1 and thegate terminal of the PMOS transistor M2 are both connected to the drainterminal of the PMOS transistor M2 to configure a current mirrorcircuit. In the present embodiment, the PMOS transistor M1 and the PMOStransistor M2 are PMOS transistors with the same configuration.

Further, the output signal line 21 for outputting the output signal OUTis connected between the PMOS transistor M1 and the constant currentsource I2.

Next, the voltage detection operation of the voltage detection circuit30 of the present embodiment will be described.

First, a case where the battery voltage of the battery cell is high willbe described. In a case where the voltage of the battery cell is high,the difference between the voltage of the positive electrode (highpotential) side and the voltage of the negative electrode (lowpotential) side of the battery cell is large, and the gate-sourcevoltage of the PMOS transistor M1 exceeds the threshold voltage Vt ofthe PMOS transistor M1, the PMOS transistor M1 switches on and currentis supplied to the constant current source I2. Because of this, theoutput signal OUT outputted via the output signal line 21 becomes thevoltage level of the positive electrode (high potential) side of thebattery cell.

Next, a case where the battery voltage of the battery cell is low willbe described. In a case where the voltage of the battery cell is low,the difference between the voltage of the positive electrode (highpotential) side and the voltage of the negative electrode (lowpotential) side of the battery cell is small, and the gate-sourcevoltage of the PMOS transistor M1 is equal to or less than the thresholdvoltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1, the PMOS transistor M1 switchesoff and current is no longer supplied to the constant current source I2.Because of this, the output signal OUT outputted via the output signalline 21 becomes the GND level.

Here, in the present embodiment, the threshold value at which the outputsignal OUT changes from the voltage level of the positive electrode(high potential) side of the battery cell to the GND level depending onthe difference between the voltage of the positive electrode (highpotential) side and the voltage of the negative electrode (lowpotential) side of the battery cell can be set to a voltage value thatis smaller than the threshold voltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1 as aresult of the voltage applied from the positive electrode (highpotential) side of the battery cell to the source terminal of the PMOStransistor M1 being regulated by the voltage drop of the resistiveelement R1.

The PMOS transistor M1 and the PMOS transistor M2 configure a currentmirror circuit. Further, the voltages applied to the gate terminals ofthe PMOS transistor M1 and the PMOS transistor M2 become the same.Further, a voltage equal to the difference between the voltage appliedfrom the positive electrode (high potential) side of the battery celland the voltage drop of the resistive element R1 is applied to thesource terminal of the PMOS transistor M1.

Consequently, in the voltage detection circuit 30 of the presentembodiment, the threshold value at which the level of the output signalOUT changes becomes a voltage equal to the voltage drop of the resistiveelement R1 regardless of the threshold voltage Vt of the PMOS transistorM1. Specifically, the voltage drop is determined by the resistance valueof the resistive element R1 and the current value of the constantcurrent source I2.

For that reason, in the voltage detection circuit 30 of the presentembodiment, by regulating the resistance value of the resistive elementR1 and the current value of the constant current source I2, thethreshold value at which the level of the output signal OUT changes canbe set to an arbitrary value and can be set to a low value.

Consequently, in the voltage detection circuit 30 of the presentembodiment, the voltage of the battery cell can be detected to a lowvoltage (e.g., 0.1 V) regardless of the threshold voltage Vt of the PMOStransistor M1.

The battery cell charging prohibition determination operation in thesemiconductor circuit 14 of the present embodiment is substantially thesame as that of the first embodiment. That is, the processing circuit 22of the semiconductor circuit 14 detects the levels of the output signalsOUT of the voltage detection circuits 30 and determines whether or notthere is a GND level output signal OUT. In a case where there is a GNDlevel output signal OUT, the processing circuit 22 determines that thebattery voltage of the battery cell detected by the voltage detectioncircuit 30 whose GND level output signal OUT the processing circuit 22has detected is equal to or less than the charging prohibition voltageand performs the predetermined processing for prohibiting charging.Therefore, description of the battery cell charging prohibitiondetermination operation in the semiconductor circuit 14 of the presentembodiment will be omitted here.

As described above, the voltage detection circuit 30 in thesemiconductor circuit 14 of the battery monitoring system 10 of thepresent embodiment is configured to include the PMOS transistor M1 thatfunctions as a switching element, the PMOS transistor M2, the resistiveelement R1, the constant current source I1, and the constant currentsource I2. Further, the voltage detection circuit 30 is also providedwith the output signal line 21 for outputting, as the output signal OUT,the potential between the PMOS transistor M1 and the constant currentsource I2.

The resistive element R1 is disposed between the positive electrode(high potential) side of the battery cell and the source terminal of thePMOS transistor M1. The source terminal of the PMOS transistor M1 isconnected to the positive electrode (high potential) side of the batterycell via the resistive element R1, and the drain terminal of the PMOStransistor M1 is connected to the constant current source I2. The sourceterminal of the PMOS transistor M2 is connected to the negativeelectrode (low potential) side of the battery cell, and the drainterminal of the PMOS transistor M2 is connected to the constant currentsource I1. The gate terminals of the PMOS transistor M1 and the PMOStransistor M2 are both connected to the drain terminal of the PMOStransistor M2 to configure a current mirror circuit.

In a case where the voltage of the battery cell is high and thegate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M1 exceeds the thresholdvoltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1, the PMOS transistor M1 switches onand the output signal OUT becomes the voltage level of the positiveelectrode (high potential) side of the battery cell. On the other hand,in a case where the battery voltage of the battery cell is low and thegate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M1 is equal to or less thanthe threshold voltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1, the PMOS transistorM1 switches off and the output signal OUT becomes the GND level.

At this time, in the present embodiment, a current mirror circuit isconfigured. Further, a voltage equal to the difference between thevoltage applied from the positive electrode (high potential) side of thebattery cell and the voltage drop of the resistive element R1 is appliedto the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M1. For this reason, thethreshold value at which the level of the output signal OUT changes canbe made equal to a voltage value equal to the voltage drop of theresistive element R1 according to the current value of the constantcurrent source I2.

Consequently, by regulating the resistance value of the resistiveelement R1 and the current value of the constant current source I2, thethreshold value at which the level of the output signal OUT changes canbe set to an arbitrary value, so even in a case where the batteryvoltage of the battery cell is low, the battery voltage of the batterycell can be detected.

That is, like in the first embodiment, the threshold value at which thelevel of the output signal OUT changes can be set to a value that issmaller than the threshold voltage Vt of the PMOS transistor M1, so evena lower battery voltage of the battery cell can be detected.

Further, like in the first embodiment, the processing circuit 22 of thesemiconductor circuit 14 performs the predetermined processing forprohibiting charging in a case where the battery voltage of a batterycell is equal to or less than the charging prohibition voltage, socopper ion precipitation and electrolyte leakage that occur as a resultof ending up charging a battery cell whose battery voltage is equal toor less than the charging prohibition voltage can be prevented.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, another example ofthe battery cell charging prohibition determination operation will bedescribed. In the present embodiment, a specific example of a chargingprohibition determination operation that determines whether or not thebattery voltages of the battery cells in the battery cell group 12 havebecome equal to or less than the charging prohibition voltage in a casewhere a system (e.g., a system installed in a car or electric vehicle)provided with the battery cell group 12 is not used for a long period oftime and the voltages of the battery cells in the battery cell group 12have dropped equally (by the same voltage) as a result of each batterycell in the battery cell group 12 having a natural discharge will bedescribed.

FIG. 6 to FIG. 10 are schematic diagrams showing the voltage detectioncircuits 20 (201 to 205) in the semiconductor circuit 14 of the batterymonitoring system 10 for describing the charging prohibitiondetermination operation of the present embodiment. Here, the voltagedetection circuits 20 of the first embodiment are used as the voltagedetection circuits, but it goes without saying that the voltagedetection circuits 30 of the second embodiment may also be used.Further, here, a case where the battery cell group 12 is provided withfive battery cells will be described.

In the present embodiment, as a specific example, it will be assumedthat the voltage value of the battery cells (a voltage value in a statewhere charging is complete) is equal to 3.6 V, the threshold voltage Vtof the PMOS transistors M1 (M11 to M15) of the voltage detectioncircuits 20 (201 to 205) is equal to 0.8 V, and the forward voltage ofthe diodes D1 (D11 to D15) is equal to 0.7 V.

First, the operation of the voltage detection circuits 20 (201 to 205)in a case where the voltage value of each battery cell in the batterycell group 12 is an ideal value (a voltage value in a state wherecharging is complete) will be described with reference to the schematicdiagram of FIG. 7.

The potential (potential at point P1) applied to the gate terminal ofthe PMOS transistor M11 becomes 0 V. Potential 1 applied to the sourceterminal of the PMOS transistor M11 is equal to 3.6 V, so thegate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M11 becomes equal to thedifference between 3.6 V and 0 V, which is 3.6 V (3.6 V−0 V=3.6 V). Thisexceeds the threshold voltage Vt, which is equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOStransistor M11 switches on and the output signal OUT outputs the levelof potential 1.

The potential (potential at point P2) applied to the gate terminal ofthe PMOS transistor M12 becomes a value equal to the difference betweenpotential 1 and the forward voltage of the diode D12, so P2=3.6 V−0.7V=2.9 V. Potential 2 applied to the source terminal of the PMOStransistor M12 is equal to 7.2 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOStransistor M12 becomes equal to the difference between 7.2 V and 2.9 V,which is 4.3 V (7.2 V−2.9 V=4.3 V). This exceeds the threshold voltageVt, which is equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M12 switches on andthe output signal OUT outputs the level of potential 2.

The potential (potential at point P3) applied to the gate terminal ofthe PMOS transistor M13 becomes a value equal to the difference betweenpotential 2 and the forward voltage of the diode D13, so P3=7.2 V−0.7V=6.5 V. Potential 3 applied to the source terminal of the PMOStransistor M13 is equal to 10.8 V, so the gate-source voltage of thePMOS transistor M13 becomes equal to the difference between 10.8 V and6.5 V, which is 4.3 V (10.8 V−6.5 V=4.3 V). This exceeds the thresholdvoltage Vt, which is equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M13 switcheson and the output signal OUT outputs the level of potential 3.

The potential (potential at point P4) applied to the gate terminal ofthe PMOS transistor M14 becomes a value equal to the difference betweenpotential 3 and the forward voltage of the diode D14, so P4=10.8 V−0.7V=10.1 V. Potential 4 applied to the source terminal of the PMOStransistor M14 is equal to 14.4 V, so the gate-source voltage of thePMOS transistor M14 becomes equal to the difference between 14.4 V and10.1 V, which is 4.3 V (14.4 V−10.1 V=4.3 V). This exceeds the thresholdvoltage Vt, which is equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M14 switcheson and the output signal OUT outputs the level of potential 4.

The potential (potential at point P5) applied to the gate terminal ofthe PMOS transistor M15 becomes a value equal to the difference betweenpotential 4 and the forward voltage of the diode D15, so P5=14.4 V−0.7V=13.7 V. Potential 5 applied to the source terminal of the PMOStransistor M15 is equal to 18.0 V, so the gate-source voltage of thePMOS transistor M15 becomes equal to the difference between 18.0 V and13.7 V, which is 4.3 V (18.0 V−13.7 V=4.3 V). This exceeds the thresholdvoltage Vt, which is equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M15 switcheson and the output signal OUT outputs the level of potential 5.

In this case, there is no voltage detection circuit 20 (201 to 205)whose output signal OUT is the GND level, so the processing circuit 22determines that the battery voltages of the battery cells in the batterycell group 12 exceed the charging prohibition voltage and the chargingprohibition operation is not performed.

Next, a case where the battery voltage of each battery cell in thebattery cell group 12 has dropped significantly will be described. Here,the operation of the voltage detection circuits 20 (201 to 205) in acase where the battery voltages of the battery cells have all dropped to0.6 V will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG.8.

The potential at point P1 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M11 becomes 0 V. Potential 1 applied to the source terminalof the PMOS transistor M11 is equal to 0.6 V, so the gate-source voltageof the PMOS transistor M11 becomes equal to the difference between 0.6 Vand 0 V, which is 0.6 V (0.6 V−0 V=0.6 V). This is equal to or less thanthe threshold voltage Vt, which is equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOStransistor M11 switches off and the output signal OUT outputs the GNDlevel.

The potential at point P2 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M12 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential1 and the forward voltage of the diode D12, so it becomes 0 V. Potential2 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M12 is equal to1.2 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M12 becomesequal to the difference between 1.2 V and 0 V, which is 1.2 V (1.2 V−0V=1.2 V). This exceeds the threshold voltage Vt, which is equal to 0.8V, so the PMOS transistor M12 switches on and the output signal OUToutputs the level of potential 2.

The potential at point P3 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M13 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential2 and the forward voltage of the diode D13, so P3=1.2 V−0.7 V=0.5 V.Potential 3 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M13 isequal to 1.8 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M13becomes equal to the difference between 1.8 V and 0.5 V, which is 1.3 V(1.8 V−0.5 V=1.3 V). This exceeds the threshold voltage Vt, which isequal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M13 switches on and the outputsignal OUT outputs the level of potential 3.

The potential at point P4 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M14 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential3 and the forward voltage of the diode D14, so P4=1.8 V−0.7 V=1.1 V.Potential 4 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M14 isequal to 2.4 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M14becomes equal to the difference between 2.4 V and 1.1 V, which is 1.3 V(2.4 V−1.1 V=1.3 V). This exceeds the threshold voltage Vt, which isequal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M14 switches on and the outputsignal OUT outputs the level of potential 4.

The potential at point P5 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M15 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential4 and the forward voltage of the diode D15, so P5=2.4 V−0.7 V=1.7 V.Potential 5 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M15 isequal to 3.0 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M15becomes equal to the difference between 3.0 V and 1.7 V, which is 1.3 V(3.0 V−1.7 V=1.3 V). This exceeds the threshold voltage Vt, which isequal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M15 switches on and the outputsignal OUT outputs the level of potential 5.

In this case, the processing circuit 22 detects that there is onevoltage detection circuit 20 whose output signal OUT is the GND level.In a case where the charging prohibition voltage is set to 0.6 V, theprocessing circuit 22 determines to prohibit the charging operation ofthe battery cell group 12 when there is one voltage detection circuit 20whose output signal OUT is the GND level in this way, whereby chargingcan be prohibited.

Next, a case where the battery voltage of each battery cell in thebattery cell group 12 has dropped even more will be described. Here, theoperation of the voltage detection circuits 20 (201 to 205) in a casewhere the battery voltages of the battery cells have all dropped to 0.4V will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. 9.

The potential at point P1 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M11 becomes 0 V. Potential 1 applied to the source terminalof the PMOS transistor M11 is equal to 0.4 V, so the gate-source voltageof the PMOS transistor M11 becomes equal to the difference between 0.4 Vand 0 V, which is 0.4 V (0.4 V−0 V=0.4 V). This is equal to or less thanthe threshold voltage Vt, which is equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOStransistor M11 switches off and the output signal OUT outputs the GNDlevel.

The potential at point P2 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M12 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential1 and the forward voltage of the diode D12, so it becomes 0 V. Potential2 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M12 is equal to0.8 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M12 becomesequal to the difference between 0.8 V and 0 V, which is 0.8 V (0.8 V−0V=0.8 V). This is equal to or less than the threshold voltage Vt, whichis equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M12 switches off and theoutput signal OUT outputs the GND level.

The potential at point P3 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M13 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential2 and the forward voltage of the diode D13, so P3=0.8 V−0.7 V=0.1 V.Potential 3 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M13 isequal to 1.2 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M13becomes equal to the difference between 1.2 V and 0.1 V, which is 1.1 V(1.2 V−0.1 V=1.1 V). This exceeds the threshold voltage Vt, which isequal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M13 switches on and the outputsignal OUT outputs the level of potential 3.

The potential at point P4 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M14 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential3 and the forward voltage of the diode D14, so P4=1.2 V−0.7 V=0.5 V.Potential 4 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M14 isequal to 1.6 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M14becomes equal to the difference between 1.6 V and 0.5 V, which is 1.1 V(1.6 V−0.5 V=1.1 V). This exceeds the threshold voltage Vt, which isequal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M14 switches on and the outputsignal OUT outputs the level of potential 4.

The potential at point P5 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M15 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential4 and the forward voltage of the diode D15, so P5=1.6 V−0.7 V=0.9 V.Potential 5 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M15 isequal to 2.0 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M15becomes equal to the difference between 2.0 V and 0.9 V, which is 1.1 V(2.0 V−0.9 V=1.1 V). This exceeds the threshold voltage Vt, which isequal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M15 switches on and the outputsignal OUT outputs the level of potential 5.

In this case, the processing circuit 22 detects that there are twovoltage detection circuits 20 whose output signal OUT is the GND level.In a case where the charging prohibition voltage is set to 0.4 V, theprocessing circuit 22 determines to prohibit the charging operation ofthe battery cell group 12 when there are two voltage detection circuits20 whose output signal OUT is the GND level in this way, wherebycharging can be prohibited.

Further, a case where the battery voltage of each battery cell in thebattery cell group 12 has dropped even more will be described. Here, theoperation of the voltage detection circuits 20 (201 to 205) in a casewhere the battery voltages of the battery cells have all dropped to 0.2V will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. 10.

The potential at point P1 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M11 becomes 0 V. Potential 1 applied to the source terminalof the PMOS transistor M11 is equal to 0.2 V, so the gate-source voltageof the PMOS transistor M11 becomes equal to the difference between 0.2 Vand 0 V, which is 0.2 V (0.2 V−0 V=0.2 V). This is equal to or less thanthe threshold voltage Vt, which is equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOStransistor M11 switches off and the output signal OUT outputs the GNDlevel.

The potential at point P2 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M12 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential1 and the forward voltage of the diode D12, so it becomes 0 V. Potential2 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M12 is equal to0.4 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M12 becomesequal to the difference between 0.4 V and 0 V, which is 0.4 V (0.4 V−0V=0.4 V). This is equal to or less than the threshold voltage Vt, whichis equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M12 switches off and theoutput signal OUT outputs the GND level.

The potential at point P3 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M13 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential2 and the forward voltage of the diode D13, so it becomes 0 V. Potential3 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M13 is equal to0.6 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M13 becomesequal to the difference between 0.6 V and 0 V, which is 0.6 V (0.6 V−0V=0.6 V). This is equal to or less than the threshold voltage Vt, whichis equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M13 switches off and theoutput signal OUT outputs the GND level.

The potential at point P4 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M14 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential3 and the forward voltage of the diode D14, so it becomes 0 V. Potential4 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M14 is equal to0.8 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M14 becomesequal to the difference between 0.8 V and 0 V, which is 0.8 V (0.8 V−0V=0.8 V). This is equal to or less than the threshold voltage Vt, whichis equal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M14 switches off and theoutput signal OUT outputs the GND level.

The potential at point P5 applied to the gate terminal of the PMOStransistor M15 becomes a value equal to the difference between potential4 and the forward voltage of the diode D15, so P5=0.8 V−0.7 V=0.1 V.Potential 5 applied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M15 isequal to 1.0 V, so the gate-source voltage of the PMOS transistor M15becomes equal to the difference between 1.0 V and 0.1 V, which is 0.9 V(1.0 V−0.1 V=0.9 V). This exceeds the threshold voltage Vt, which isequal to 0.8 V, so the PMOS transistor M15 switches on and the outputsignal OUT outputs the level of potential 5.

In this case, the processing circuit 22 detects that there are fourvoltage detection circuits 20 whose output signal OUT is the GND level.In a case where the charging prohibition voltage is set to 0.2 V, theprocessing circuit 22 determines to prohibit the charging operation ofthe battery cell group 12 when there are four voltage detection circuits20 whose output signal OUT is the GND level in this way, wherebycharging can be prohibited.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a flow of a charging prohibitiondetermination operation that prohibits charging of the battery cellgroup 12 in accordance with the number of output signals OUT outputtingthe GND level that is predetermined in accordance with the chargingprohibition voltage in this way.

Steps 150, 152, and 154 of the charging prohibition determinationoperation shown in FIG. 11 correspond respectively to steps 100, 102,and 104 of the charging prohibition determination operation of the firstembodiment (see FIG. 4). That is, the processing circuit 22 performs,with respect to all of the voltage detection circuits 20 (201 to 205),the processing of detecting and storing the output signals OUT of thevoltage detection circuits 20 and thereafter advances to step 156.

In step 156, the processing circuit 22 acquires the number of GND leveloutput signals OUT according to the setting of the charging prohibitionvoltage. A predetermined value (fixed value) may be set beforehand forthe charging prohibition voltage, or the charging prohibition voltagemay be set arbitrarily in accordance with the condition of use and soforth of the battery cell group 12. It suffices for the correspondencerelationship between the charging prohibition voltage and the number ofGND level output signals OUT to be stored beforehand in a storage unit(memory) not shown in the drawings. For example, in the cases describedabove, the processing circuit 22 acquires a number of output signals OUTequal to 1 in a case where the charging prohibition voltage is equal to0.6 V, the processing circuit 22 acquires a number of output signals OUTequal to 2 in a case where the charging prohibition voltage is equal to0.4 V, and the processing circuit 22 acquires a number of output signalsOUT equal to 4 in a case where the charging prohibition voltage is equalto 0.2 V.

In the next step 158, the number of output signals OUT stored in step152 that indicate the GND level is counted. In the next step 160, it isjudged whether or not the acquired number acquired in step 156 is equalto or less than the counted value counted in step 158. In a case wherethe answer is NO, the battery voltage of each battery cell in thebattery cell group 12 exceeds the charging prohibition voltage, so theprocessing ends. On the other hand, in a case where the answer is YES,the battery voltage of each battery cell in the battery cell group 12 isequal to or less than the charging prohibition voltage, so theprocessing advances to step 162, the predetermined processing forprohibiting charging like in step 108 of the charging prohibitiondetermination operation of the first embodiment (see FIG. 4) isperformed, and thereafter the processing ends.

As described above, in the charging prohibition determination operationof the present embodiment, by detecting the number of output signals OUToutputting the GND level, whether or not the battery voltages of thebattery cells in the battery cell group 12 are equal to or less than thecharging prohibition voltage can be determined. Further, charging of thebattery cell group 12 can be prohibited in accordance with the number ofoutput signals OUT outputting the GND level that is predetermined inaccordance with the charging prohibition voltage, so the chargingprohibition voltage can be set arbitrarily.

In the first, second, and third embodiments described above, it isassumed that a high voltage is applied to the PMOS transistor M1 of thevoltage detection circuit of the battery cell of the upper (highpotential) side, but in this case, it suffices to configure the voltagedetection circuit so as to use a high pressure-resistant PMOStransistor.

In the first, second, and third embodiments described above, theprocessing circuit 22 is disposed inside the same semiconductor circuit14 as the voltage detection circuits 20 and 30, but the presentinvention is not limited to this. The processing circuit 22 may also beformed in another circuit (on a chip). Further, likewise, the chargingcircuit 16 may also be disposed outside the battery monitoring system10.

Further, in the first, second, and third embodiments described above, acase where the voltage detection circuit is disposed for each batterycell in the battery cell group 12 has been described in detail, but thepresent invention is not limited to this. For example, one voltagedetection circuit may also be disposed respect to the battery cell group12, and the voltage detection circuit may be appropriately connected bya switching element or the like to the battery cell whose voltage onewishes to detect.

Further, in the first, second, and third embodiments described above, aPMOS transistor is used as the switching element, but the presentinvention is not limited to this. For example, a PNP transistor may alsobe used as the switching element. Further, for example, an NMOStransistor or an NPN transistor may also be used as the switchingelement. As an example in this case, FIG. 12 shows a case where an NMOStransistor is used as the switching element in the first embodiment. Inthe voltage detection circuit 20 shown in FIG. 12, the drain terminal ofthe NMOS transistor M1 serving as the switching element is connected tothe negative electrode (low potential) side of the battery cell, and thesource terminal of the NMOS transistor M1 is connected to the constantcurrent source I1. Further, the gate terminal of the NMOS transistor M1is connected between the diode D1 and the constant current source I2.Further, the diode D1 that regulates the voltage applied to the gateterminal of the NMOS transistor M1 is disposed on the positive electrode(high potential) side of the battery cell. Further, the output signalline 21 for outputting the output signal OUT is connected between theNMOS transistor M1 and the constant current source I1. Like in the firstembodiment, by regulating the voltage applied to the control terminal ofthe NMOS transistor M1, the gate-source voltage can be regulated and alow voltage of the battery cell can be detected regardless of thethreshold voltage Vt.

The transistor used as the switching element operates so as to switchfrom off to on in a case where the gate-source voltage exceeds thethreshold voltage Vt, so configuring the detection circuit 20 in such away that the source side of the transistor (switching element) isconnected to the positive electrode (high potential) side or thenegative electrode (low potential) side of the battery cell ispreferred. For that reason, using a PMOS transistor for the switchingelement like in the first, second, and third embodiments is preferred.From the standpoint of manufacturing costs, using a PMOS transistor ispreferred.

Further, the configuration and operation of the voltage detectioncircuits described in the first, second, and third embodiments, thediode D1 used for regulating the voltage in the first embodiment, andthe resistive element R1 used for regulating the voltage in the secondembodiment are examples and, it goes without saying, may be changed inaccordance with the situation without departing from the gist of thepresent invention. For example, it suffices for the diode D1 in thefirst embodiment to regulate the voltage by lowering the voltage appliedfrom the negative electrode (low potential) side of the battery cell,and the diode D1 in the first embodiment may also be a resistiveelement. In the first embodiment, the voltage can be lowered by theconstant forward voltage, so using a diode is preferred. Further, forexample, the resistive element R1 in the second embodiment also likewiseregulates the voltage by lowering the voltage applied from the negativeelectrode (low potential) side of the battery cell and may also be adiode. The voltage drop amount can be changed in accordance with theflowing current, so using a resistive element is preferred.

Embodiments of the present invention are described above, but thepresent invention is not limited to the embodiments as will be clear tothose skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A monitoring method for determining necessity ofcharging prohibition, comprising: acquiring a potential that is outputfrom an output signal line of a comparator circuit, the comparatorcircuit comprising a first outer terminal connected to a positiveelectrode of a battery cell, a second outer terminal connected to anegative electrode of the battery cell, a switching element having (i) afirst terminal to which a voltage applied to the first outer terminal isdirectly applied, (ii) a second terminal connected to a first fixedpotential supply source, and (iii) a control terminal that controlsconduction between the first terminal and the second terminal inresponse to an applied voltage, a voltage regulating unit that has oneend connected to the second outer terminal and another end connected tothe control terminal and to a second fixed potential supply source, andthat regulates the voltage applied from the second outer terminal to theswitching element, and the output signal line connected to a connectingportion of the second terminal and the first fixed potential supplysource; judging whether or not the acquired potential is a potential ofthe first or second fixed potential supply source; and determining thata voltage of the battery cell is equal to or less than a chargingprohibition voltage in a case in which it is judged that the acquiredpotential is the potential of the first or second fixed potential supplysource.
 2. The monitoring method according to claim 1, wherein thedetermining that the voltage of the battery cell is equal to or lessthan the charging prohibition voltage further comprises prohibitingcharging of the battery cell.
 3. A monitoring method for determiningnecessity of charging prohibition, comprising: setting a number ofoutput signals from comparator circuits corresponding to a chargingprohibition voltage at a semiconductor circuit having a plurality ofcomparator circuits; performing, with respect to each battery cell in aplurality of battery cells, processing that acquires an output signalthat is output from an output signal line of a comparator circuit fromamong the comparator circuits, the comparator circuit comprising aswitching element that is disposed between a positive electrode of abattery cell from among the plurality of battery cells and a fixedpotential supply source, that has a control terminal connected to anegative electrode of the battery cell, and that operates in response toa voltage applied from the battery cell to the control terminal, avoltage regulating unit that is disposed between the battery cell andthe switching element and that regulates the voltage applied from thebattery cell to the switching element, and the output signal line, whichoutputs a potential between the switching element and the fixedpotential supply source as the output signal; acquiring a number ofoutput signals in which the acquired output signal indicates thepotential of the fixed potential supply source; and determining, if theacquired number of output signals in which the acquired output signalindicates the potential of the fixed potential supply source exceeds theset number of output signals, that the voltage of the battery cell isequal to or less than the charging prohibition voltage.
 4. Themonitoring method according to claim 3, wherein the determining that thevoltage of the battery cell is equal to or less than the chargingprohibition voltage further comprises prohibiting charging of thebattery cell.
 5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium in which isstored a program for causing a computer to execute monitoring ofprocessing for determining necessity of charging prohibition, themonitoring comprising: acquiring a potential that is output from anoutput signal line of a comparator circuit, the comparator circuitcomprising a first outer terminal connected to a positive electrode of abattery cell, a second outer terminal connected to a negative electrodeof the battery cell, a switching element having (i) a first terminal towhich a voltage applied to the first outer terminal is directly applied,(ii) a second terminal connected to a first fixed potential supplysource, and (iii) a control terminal that controls conduction betweenthe first terminal and the second terminal in response to an appliedvoltage, a voltage regulating unit that has one end connected to thesecond outer terminal and another end connected to the control terminaland to a second fixed potential supply source, and that regulates thevoltage applied from the second outer terminal to the switching element,and the output signal line connected to a connecting portion of thesecond terminal and the first fixed potential supply source; judgingwhether or not the acquired potential is a potential of the first orsecond fixed potential supply source; and determining that a voltage ofthe battery cell is equal to or less than a charging prohibition voltagein a case in which it is judged that the acquired potential is thepotential of the first or second fixed potential supply source.
 6. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium in which is stored a program forcausing a computer to execute monitoring of processing for determiningnecessity of charging prohibition, the monitoring comprising: setting anumber of output signals from comparator circuits corresponding to acharging prohibition voltage at a semiconductor circuit having aplurality of comparator circuits; performing, with respect to eachbattery cell in a plurality of battery cells, processing that acquiresan output signal that is output from an output signal line of acomparator circuit from among the comparator circuits, the comparatorcircuit comprising a switching element that is disposed between apositive electrode of a battery cell from among the plurality of batterycells and a fixed potential supply source, that has a control terminalconnected to a negative electrode of the battery cell, and that operatesin response to a voltage applied from the battery cell to the controlterminal, a voltage regulating unit that is disposed between the batterycell and the switching element and that regulates the voltage appliedfrom the battery cell to the switching element, and the output signalline, which outputs a potential between the switching element and thefixed potential supply source as the output signal; acquiring a numberof output signals in which the acquired output signal indicates thepotential of the fixed potential supply source; and determining, if theacquired number of output signals in which the acquired output signalindicates the potential of the fixed potential supply source exceeds theset number of output signals, that the voltage of the battery cell isequal to or less than the charging prohibition voltage.